Bury St Edmunds and Stowmarket General Election 2024 count: Updates from Bury St Edmunds Leisure Centre

The polls have closed and the count the Bury St Edmunds and Stowmarket constituency has began.

Votes are being tallied at Bury St Edmunds Leisure Centre, with the result expected to be declared at about 3.30am to 4am.

Those vying for the seat, held by Conservative MP Jo Churchill since 2015 before she stepped down for family reasons, are:

- Emma Buckmaster (Green Party)
- Jeremy Lee (Independent)
- Peter Prinsley (Labour)
- Peter McDonald (Liberal Democrat)
- Will Tanner (Conservative)
- Scott Hussey (Reform UK)
- Darren Turner (Communist Party)
- Richard Baker-Howard (Rejoin EU Party)

Mrs Churchill won the constituency, previously known as Bury St Edmunds before boundary changes, in 2019 with a 24,988 majority after scoring 37,770 votes, with a turnout of 69.1 per cent.

In tonight’s election the turnout has dropped to 65.14 per cent.

Labour’s Cliff Waterman gained 12,782 votes, Helen Geake (Green Party) had 9,711 and 1,694 for Paul Hopfensperger (Independent).

As the national exit poll points at a Labour landslide, the Bury St Edmunds and Stowmarket candidates have been sharing their views on the situation so far.

Darren Turner (Communist Party) said: "We're feeling good. We had a good campaign and it's been very positive but in terms of the predictive result tonight (nationally) it's a Labour landslide and with that comes a massive responsibility for Keir Starmer.

“He has to decide how he's going to govern - in the interests of the people or the interests of the wealthy? If he chooses the latter we're going to be no further forward.

“It really is up to Keir Starmer - he appears to have got the power he craved and it's what he does with that power. The Communist Party will be holding the Labour Party to account in the name of the working class."

Scott Hussey (Reform UK) said: "There's been lots of support from lots of different types of people - really young to old. Lots of traditional Tory voters have come over to Reform.

“There's a sense from them of being betrayed and frustrated by the Conservatives but also apprehensive and uninspired by Labour.”

Peter McDonald (Liberal Democrat) said: "The exit poll is fantastic. It was within the expectations.

“We didn't have a candidate here obviously in 2019 so we're trying to re-establish ourselves across the constituency."

Jeremy Lee (Independent) said: "I'm feeling disappointed that there hasn't been enough time to fully engage with the people of Bury and Stowmarket."

Emma Buckmaster (Green) said: "I'm feeling very positive and excited and really hope that all the people who really believed in the Green manifesto will have voted Green because it has been a dilemma for everyone. Tactical voting has really affected the issue for people. People wanted to see change here so much that I'm concerned that might have affected the Green support."

On predictions of a Labour landslide nationally, she said: "It's all the more important to have a voice for the environment in the face of having a very large majority Government that isn't focused on the environment."

Richard Baker-Howard (Rejoin EU) said: “It’s been an absolute pleasure to be involved in my own constituency. I think the Tories will suffer a defeat they so richly deserve.

“We tried our best because Brexit is still an issue, which is alive.

“We’ve tried to point out the difficulties but to translate that into a vote in the General Election is a big order, especially as it was just me and my missus doing the campaigning."

Peter Prinsley (Labour) said he was feeling a bit on edge but hopeful.

"It's been a very exciting campaign. We had great support and we have a great chance to change the country and wouldn't it be great if Bury St Edmunds and Stowmarket were to be part of that change," Mr Prinsley said.

"Sometimes, once in a lifetime, hope and history rhyme."

Labour Cllr Cliff Waterman, leader of West Suffolk Council, said: “The last 14 years have seen the country devastated.

“We need a strong government that can push through the changes. We’ve already begun that at Bury - a process of improvement.

“I think a lot of Conservative voters are actually ashamed of what the party has done with the country. We need a strong government to start rebuilding the country.”

Our reporters are at the majority of the election counts across Suffolk. To read our live blog with updates from the counts, click here.

This story will be updated throughout the night.

Reporting by Martyna Wiecha and Paul Derrick